Martin

Evan Allen and Anthony Louis scored in the shootout and Thatcher Demko stopped both Swedish shooters he faced as the United States advanced to the gold medal game at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 2-1 semifinal win over Sweden on Tuesday afternoon.

The Americans are into the final for the fifth time in the last six U17 tournaments; they won the big prize in 2010, defeating Ontario, but lost to Quebec in 2006 and to Ontario in 2008 and last year.

“I was going shot the whole time, no deking,” said Louis, “It’s a great feeling to get the winner in a game like this.”

Spencer Martin made 19 saves for the shutout as Ontario opened defense of its World Under-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal with a 5-0 victory over Germany in front of more than 3,000 fans at the WFCU Centre on Thursday afternoon.

The result was a reversal of fortune from the last time Ontario defended a gold medal on home ice – in 2010, it suffered a shocking 5-3 loss to Finland in its opening game in Timmins, Ont., although it rebounded to reach the gold medal game.

The New York Rangers come in winners of seven in a row. Coach John Tortorella has the team driving on all cylinders and even Sean Avery is playing, yes just playing. Is it smoke and mirrors or is the team actually good? Well for now, let’s just say the team is working hard. The players who are supposed to score are scoring and Henrik Lundqvist is keeping them in every game.

The Montreal Canadiens welcome the Rangers after visiting the other New York team on Thursday. Coming off a less than stellar effort on the Island, the team will be encoura...